Mrs. Albanese’s Blog

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Homework – Read and study for Fire Test. Bring book to class on Thursday for Book Review.

Mon – Poem: Shamrock.  “To Build a Fire” – review questions and answers – creating your own study guide.

Tue – New grading system review: 5=A, 4=B, 3=C, 2=D, 1=do over.   So far graded item this marking period (5th) are

1. To Build a Fire – 2 column notes
2. Questions #1-8 done in class for review
3. Fire test.  Today- Fire Test

Wed – Library – exchange books and take AR tests.  Readers Handbook – read Comparing and Contrasting. 383-388.  Do a compare and contrast chart using Scrooge and the Grinch. 

Thursday – Bring book to class.  Book review. 

HOMEWORK – Read AR book for 30 minutes each night. Bring the book to class and you can read when you are finished with state testing. Finish your final essay, a special day, and turn it into the tray this week.  Write down the title of your favorite book that you have read this year and also the author.

Testing begins Wed of this week. We will work on the unit To Build a Fire around the testing this week.   See the plan for this below. 

Homework – Read for 30 minutes every night your AR Book. Writing – Prompt due Feb 29: The time we spend with friends and family is very important. Think about what a perfect day spent with a friend or family member would be like. Write a letter to a friend or family member explaining what you would do on your perfect day together. 

Monday - Midterms signed collected. Essays due – Personal Possession.  DSTP Tips. Make-ups. Protopage – email me your Protopate URL. 

Tuesday –  To Build A Fire by Jack London.  Preview – Short Stories text, page 103-105.  Read story 107-125. Read this as a class and stop to discuss the plot.  See unit plan above, Wednesday – To Build a Fire. Continue.

Thursday – To Build a Fire. Continue.

Friday – To Build A Fire. Continue.

March 3 – Monday – To Build a Fire. Continue. 

Homework – (See below) Read – 30 minutes per night. Writing – prompt: The governor is considering a law requiring all children under the age of 16 to be home by 9:00pm unless supervised by an adult.  Think about whether or not you agree and write a letter persuading the governor toward your point of view.  Give specific reasons.  Due in final form on Friday for credit.

Monday – Non-Fiction texts Unit 5- Friendship.  131-145 with questions.

Tuesday – No school for students.

Wednesday – Research PRojects – work on Protopage.   Review anchor papers for last week’s prompt.

Thursday – Library. Research Projects – work on Protopage. Review anchor papers for this week’s prompt.

Friday -   Research Projects – finish Protopage.  Final homework writing due today.

   HOMEWORK – see below for complete writing prompt explanation. Writing prompt for this week, due on Friday: Most people have a favorite class. Write an essay describing your favorite class.  Mon – prewrite, Tue – draft, Wed-revise, Thur-edit and publish. This essay is due in final, complete form on Friday, Feb 1.   READING – Read your AR book for 30 minutes each night. Take AR test when finished. 

Monday – Writing:Research Paper – MLA style and formatting: how to do a cover page, a running header and a works cited page.  Use Arial 14 font.  See Writers INC 276-283.

Tuesday – Writing: Research Paper – Use MLA style and formatting. Final revision and edit. Save published paper to your file on the server. Turn your finished research paper into the tray. Begin to do research saving images and information for your presentation. Reading – Read about Theme in the Reader’s Handbook 376-382. Take notes and study.

Wednesday – Writing Prompt in the morning. 2 hour delay schedule.  Writing: Research Project and Presentation – Choices demonstrated. Create a project that will tell about the person you researched.  Protopage – a web page that can be used to present facts about a person in an interesting a creative way.  Go to www.protopage.com.  Powerpoint presentation.  Presentations must include all of the elements that are in the research paper including biographical information, lists of works, pictures of them, maps that indicate their home location, timelines, and other items. Reading: Theme – questions and notes. Study for test on Thursday.

Thursday – Writing: Research Project and Presentation – S work on project.  Reading: Review notes on Theme. Test on Theme. Evaluate test.

Friday – Writing : Research Project and Presentation – S work on project. Writing prompt about favorite class due. Turn into the tray. 

“To be a good reader – read. To be a good writer – write.”  – Mrs. Albanese

Reading – Read your AR book for 30 minutes at least five times per week. Take at least 2 AR tests for each marking period. Your two scores are report card grades.

Writing – Follow the following chart each week to create a writiing piece that will extend your skills and knowledge.

• Monday – Create a brainstorm based on your prompt – this must be written in some form – a plan, web, organized list, graphic organizer (see the Writers Inc to review)
• Tuesday – Write a draft  – bring to class
• Wednesday – Revise the draft – bring to class
• Thursday – Edit and publish (type if you can) the piece

You can save it on a flash drive and bring it to school to save on the hard drive. Also, you must turn in your essay to the tray on paper every Friday. If there is snow or you are absent, turn it in when you return. These are graded and important.  Each essay should represent careful planning, writing and revision. Go to the link below to view the rubric that will be used to evaluate your essays.

State of Delaware Writing Rubric:  http://www.doe.k12.de.us/programs/aab/files/GeneralRubricforWriting.pdf

Prompt due Jan 25:  Your friend wants to try out for the Lacrosse team in the spring but you know she/he is out of shape. Write an essay with advice that would be helpful. Include facts about what you know, what you have read and has worked for you.

Prompt due Feb 1: Most people have a favorite class at school.  Think about your favorite class.  Write an essay explaining what your favorite class is and why you enjoy it.

Prompt due Feb 8: The governor is considering a law requiring all children under the age of 16 to be home by 9:00 unless they are supervised by an adult.  Think about wheter or not you agree this should be a law.  Write a letter persuading the governor to agree with your opinion on the law requiring all children under the age of 16 to be home by 9:00 pm unless they are supervised by and adult.  When you do your Prewrite/Brainstorm think about what reasons you can give to support your opinion.

Prompt due Feb 15: Many people believe that the mass media (such as television, movies, music videos, video game, and advertising) has a significant effect on teens.  Write an editorial for your school newspaper arguing that the mass media has a positive or negative effect on teens.  When you do your Prewrite/Brainstorm consider what reasons you can give to support your opinion.

Prompt due Feb 22: Your school newspaper is sponsoring a special issue entitled “Our Favorite Possessions.” Write an article describing a personal possession that is significant to you, and explain why it is significant.

Prompt due Feb 29: The time we spend with friends and family is very important. Think about what a perfect day spent with a friend or family member would be like. Write a letter to a friend or family member explaining what you would do on your perfect day together.